MONROE - Use of social media by local authorities recently led to the citation of a local man involved in a Madison hit-and-run at the end of January.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said the department was able to identify Richard Peterson, Monroe, through the use of the post, which has since been deleted. Kelley credited staff for the collaborative work between Madison Police and the Monroe department.
A man wearing a jacket with the Monroe school district design in security camera footage from the East Towne Mall was featured in a Monroe Police Department Facebook post Jan. 30. The incident took place in the mall parking lot. The post included a request for anyone with more information to contact the department to aid in his identification.
Kelley said social media has been popular in personal use for years, and certain metropolitan police departments have capitalized on the visibility of items posted on websites like Facebook or Twitter to enhance police work. Because of a larger staff size, some departments have full-time positions with specific duties that include monitoring those accounts. Monroe Police do not have that luxury, he noted.
"We're just starting to learn how to tap that resource," Kelley said.
In smaller agencies, fewer staff members spend limited time on posts. Kelley said posts to the Monroe Police Department Facebook page are usually done when somebody within the department has a few extra moments to spend at the computer, but he noted the recent success was promising.
Lieutenant John Radovan, Madison Police Department records custodian, said on Jan. 31 the department received an email from Monroe Police identifying Peterson, who was sent citations in the mail for unsafe backing and driving with a suspended license. A member of the public contacted Monroe PD with the information, Kelley said.
In the report, Radovan said though it could not be proven, review of security footage indicated to police that Peterson was unaware he had struck a pedestrian with a silver four-door sedan just after 8:37 a.m. Jan. 29.
Peterson was told by Monroe officers to contact Madison Police about the incident. Radovan said the case technically remains an open investigation.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said the department was able to identify Richard Peterson, Monroe, through the use of the post, which has since been deleted. Kelley credited staff for the collaborative work between Madison Police and the Monroe department.
A man wearing a jacket with the Monroe school district design in security camera footage from the East Towne Mall was featured in a Monroe Police Department Facebook post Jan. 30. The incident took place in the mall parking lot. The post included a request for anyone with more information to contact the department to aid in his identification.
Kelley said social media has been popular in personal use for years, and certain metropolitan police departments have capitalized on the visibility of items posted on websites like Facebook or Twitter to enhance police work. Because of a larger staff size, some departments have full-time positions with specific duties that include monitoring those accounts. Monroe Police do not have that luxury, he noted.
"We're just starting to learn how to tap that resource," Kelley said.
In smaller agencies, fewer staff members spend limited time on posts. Kelley said posts to the Monroe Police Department Facebook page are usually done when somebody within the department has a few extra moments to spend at the computer, but he noted the recent success was promising.
Lieutenant John Radovan, Madison Police Department records custodian, said on Jan. 31 the department received an email from Monroe Police identifying Peterson, who was sent citations in the mail for unsafe backing and driving with a suspended license. A member of the public contacted Monroe PD with the information, Kelley said.
In the report, Radovan said though it could not be proven, review of security footage indicated to police that Peterson was unaware he had struck a pedestrian with a silver four-door sedan just after 8:37 a.m. Jan. 29.
Peterson was told by Monroe officers to contact Madison Police about the incident. Radovan said the case technically remains an open investigation.